Epsilyte reduces July EPS prices on lower feedstock costs

Epsilyte reduces July EPS prices on lower feedstock costs

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Epsilyte (The Woodlands, Texas), a leading North American producer of expandable polystyrene (EPS), has announced a reduction in its prices for all EPS grades for July shipments, said the company.

Thus, the price of the company's EPS grades will go down by 9 cents/pound (cts/lb) or USD198/tonne, effective 1 July, 2021 or as contracts permit.

The present adjustment reflects current EPS supply and demand dynamics as well as expected feedstock trends.

As MRC reported earlier, Epsilyte cut its June EPS prices in the region by 3 cts/lb or USD66/tonne.

EPS is a rigid form of polystyrene (PS) used in insulation foams for the construction industry as well as for packaging.

According to ICIS-MRC Price report, in Russia, EPS producers said they expect a further preservation of high activity in the EPS market in July. Prices of SIBUR-Khimprom's material were not adjusted last week. Russian producers are expected to announce July EPS prices this week. The shortage of polymer is expected to remain next month on the back of stronger demand.

Epsilyte is owned by private equity firm Balmoral Funds (Los Angeles, California). Epsilyte is one of North America’s leading producers of expandable polystyrene resin. The company is focused on solving customer needs for efficient, high-R value EPS. This includes reducing energy usage in buildings, ensuring safe and healthy food through innovative packaging technology, and participating in infrastructure investment both in the United States and abroad.
MRC

Fire broke out at Westlake Chemical Petro 1 cracker

Fire broke out at Westlake Chemical Petro 1 cracker

MOSCOW (MRC) -- A fire at Westlake Chemical’s Petro 1 Unit in Lake Charles, Louisiana was reported on 25 June, 2021, according to KPLC News with reference to company officials' statement.

The fire has been quickly contained. The fire brigade has extinguished 90% of the fire, said Joe Andrepont, spokesperson for Westlake Chemical.

Everyone in the unit has been accounted for and no injuries have been reported, Andrepont said. US petrochemical producer is still working to account for workers in other areas.

There is currently no off-site impact, according to Dick Gremillion, head of Calcasieu Parish head of Emergency Preparedness.

“t was no chemical release - it was a lube oil fire from one of the actual compressor decks,” said Derek Senegal, spokesperson for Louisiana State Police. “The fire, smoke, whatever you saw, that was just from the flares from that particular section they isolated.”

As MRC informed earlier, the company conducted a scheduled turnaround at Petro 1 steam cracker from 19 April, 2016, to mid-July 2016. The company operates two steam crackers at the site - Petro-1, with current ethylene capacity of 660,000 m tpa, and Petro-2, with 886,000 m tpa.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 744,130 tonnes in the first four month of 2021, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, PP deliveries to the Russian market were 523,900 tonnes in January-April 2021, up by 55% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas shipments of PP random copolymers decreased.

Westlake Chemical Corporation is an international manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and building products with headquarters in Houston, Texas. The company's range of products includes: ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, propylene, chlor-alkali and derivative products, PVC suspension and specialty resins, PVC Compounds, and PVC building products including siding, pipe, fittings and specialty components, windows, fence, deck and film.
MRC

BASF invests to secure green power for chem sites

BASF invests  to secure green power for chem sites

MOSCOW (MRC) -- BASF has struck a EUR1.6bn deal for a 49.5% stake in a Dutch offshore windfarm project as it aims to secure renewable power for its Antwerp chemical site in Belgium and other sites in Europe, said the company.

BASF and Vattenfall have signed a contract for the purchase of 49.5% of Vattenfall’s wind farm Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) by BASF. The purchase price amounts to EUR0.3 billion and takes into account the achieved status of the project. Including BASF’s contribution to fund the wind farm construction, BASF’s total commitment amounts to around EUR1.6 billion. Closing of the transaction is expected in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the approval of the relevant authorities. Offshore construction of the wind farm will start in July 2021.

Once fully operational, the wind farm will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world with 140 wind turbines and a total installed capacity of 1.5 Gigawatt. The Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm will also be the first fully merchant offshore wind farm in the world which does not receive any price subsidies for the power produced. The project is expected to become fully operational in 2023. A significant part of the electricity production of HKZ is reserved for Vattenfall’s Dutch customers.

BASF is acquiring the electricity from the wind farm for its ownership share through a long-term power purchase agreement. It will enable BASF to implement innovative, low-emission technologies at several of its production sites in Europe. BASF’s Antwerp Verbund site will benefit from the renewable power to a significant extent. The BASF Antwerp site is the largest chemical production site in Belgium and the second largest BASF Group site worldwide.

The supply scheme to other BASF sites in Europe will depend on the further development of the respective regulation for renewable energy. The wind farm will also support the Netherlands in reaching its target share of renewable power generation and greenhouse gas reduction targets. BASF has more than 1,500 employees in the Netherlands who develop, produce and sell products for many sectors at various locations.

“This wind farm will be an important building block to supply our Antwerp Verbund site and other European sites with renewable electricity. It is the first major investment of BASF in facilities for renewable power. With this investment we are securing significant volumes of electricity from renewable sources for BASF, which is a key element of our transformation towards climate neutrality,” said Dr. Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE.

"Vattenfall and BASF share a common objective of phasing out greenhouse gas emissions from our operations. With this cooperation, Vattenfall once more proves that partnerships with industries are a key element to accelerate the European energy transition across sectors. I am particularly proud that we can do this, while at the same time securing the delivery of fossil-free electricity to our Dutch customers," said Anna Borg, President and CEO of Vattenfall.

Vattenfall has a mission to enable fossil-free living within one generation. In order to reach this goal, the company invests heavily in renewable energy. Offshore wind plays an important part in reaching its goals. A cornerstone of Vattenfall’s growth strategy is to look for partners to balance the significant?investment costs of its future assets.Strong investors will support Vattenfall to accelerate and drive the transformation of the energy landscape since it will?open up?financial space for new investments in renewables and decarbonization.

BASF aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by the year 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. One important lever to further bring down emissions is replacing fossil-based electricity with fossil-free electricity. BASF will secure the required amounts of renewable power through a “make and buy” approach. This includes the intention to bring in financial co-investors to this project allowing for an efficient use of capital.

BASF is working on scaling up low-emission technologies to industrial dimensions. Beyond 2030, BASF expects to implement technologies such as CO2-free methods for the production of hydrogen and electrically heated steam crackers, which will significantly increase BASF’s demand of renewable power. Steam crackers play a central role in the production of basic chemicals and require a significant amount of energy to break down hydrocarbons under high temperatures and pressure into olefins and aromatics. Offshore wind farms can play a key role to supply the required amounts of renewable energy.

“Vattenfall and BASF are long-standing partners. With this truly European project we take a further step in strengthening our partnership. Together we will make a positive impact on the climate, on our businesses, and we will continue to look for future opportunities for cooperation,” said Borg and Brudermuller.

As per MRC, BASF and the Fabbri group of companies developed biodegradable films for food packaging.
Based on ecovio, a certified biodegradable material from BASF, the Fabbri Group produces Nature Fresh, a highly transparent stretch film. This product is the first certified biodegradable film for foodstuffs, combining optimal breathability, long shelf life, high transparency and excellent mechanical properties for automatic packaging.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 744,130 tonnes in the first four month of 2021, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, PP deliveries to the Russian market were 523,900 tonnes in January-April 2021, up by 55% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas shipments of PP random copolymers decreased.

BASF is the largest diversified chemical company in the world and a leading global supplier of high quality polyamide and polyamide intermediates for films and monofilaments.
MRC

US biofuel groups urge EPA to curb oil refinery waivers despite ruling

US biofuel groups urge EPA to curb oil refinery waivers despite ruling

MOSCOW (MRC) -- US biofuel and corn industry groups said they are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to use restraint in its use of waivers exempting refiners from their biofuel blending obligations after the Supreme Court last week upheld the controversial program, reported Reuters.

The pressure comes as the refining industry and its representatives push hard for the opposite, asking that the administration of President Joe Biden ease the industry's compliance costs under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard to help it recover from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

The conflicting demands reflect a perennial truth about the nation's biofuel policy: it is a lightning rod of contention between the politically powerful oil and corn industries and tends to place whoever is occupying the White House in an impossible position.

"Our collective focus is now turning to EPA to end these exemptions, which we all believe have been misused in the past," said Matthew Morrison, a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, in a press call with biofuel and corn groups.

Geoff Cooper, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, a leading US biofuel group, said on the call that they are constantly communicating with the EPA to share their thoughts on the issue and those meetings will continue.

Meanwhile, lawmakers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania both passed resolutions last week urging the Biden administration to provide relief to oil refiners by revising their blending obligations, measures supported by oil industry groups.

Under the RFS, refiners must blend billions of gallons of biofuels like corn-based ethanol into their fuel each year, or buy tradable credits, known as RINs, from those that do. Small refiners can request an exemption if they can prove the cost of complying with the mandates would do them financial harm.

Biofuel advocates say the exemptions hurt demand for ethanol, while the oil industry rejects that claim and says the mandates can cost them a fortune.

On Friday the Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision that had called into question the future of the small refinery exemption program, in a major win for the refining industry. Small refiners had secured an increasing number of such waivers under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump.

It is unclear how the Supreme Court's decision will influence the EPA as it considers 50 pending small refinery exemption requests for the 2019 and 2020 compliance years. The EPA must also propose volume mandates for 2021 and 2022. The 2021 rule is already more than half a year late due to the coronavirus, which slashed US fuel demand due to travel restrictions and lockdowns.

As MRC informed earlier, in April 2021, the US Environmental Protection Agency asked industry groups for their input on the future of the nation's biofuel policy after it ends its current phase in 2022. The consultations will provide a new opportunity for the oil, corn and biofuel lobbies to reshape the regulation, called the Renewable Fuel Standard, which has bitterly divided the two industries for more than a decade. Under the RFS, oil refiners must blend increasing billions of gallons of biofuels into the nation's fuel mix each year or buy trade able credits from those that do.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 744,130 tonnes in the first four month of 2021, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, PP deliveries to the Russian market were 523,900 tonnes in January-April 2021, up by 55% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas shipments of PP random copolymers decreased.
MRC

Distillate demand returned to pre-pandemic levels earlier than gasoline and jet fuel demand

Distillate demand returned to pre-pandemic levels earlier than gasoline and jet fuel demand

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The combination of increases in both travel and economic activity in the United States has contributed to more demand for gasoline, distillate, and jet fuel, as reflected in the product supplied data of Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR), according to Hydrocarbonprocessing.

Although demand has increased for all three of these products from their 2020 lows, the extent of the demand growth has differed by product.

According to the June 23 WPSR, which includes data through June 18, demand for all three fuels was lower than during the same week in 2019, the year before COVID-19 mitigation efforts began in the United States. For the week ending June 18, the four-week average demand for gasoline was 94% of the four-week average for the same week in 2019, distillate was 98%, and jet fuel was 74%. At their lowest points in 2020, gasoline demand fell to 56% of its corresponding 2019 level, distillate demand to 80%, and jet fuel demand to 31%.

We estimate product supplied by the volume of petroleum products delivered out of the primary supply chain. Although product supplied is a reasonable proxy for consumption, weekly data may show volatility due to temporary demand, trade, or inventory fluctuations. As a result, a four-week rolling average often provides a better indication of longer-term consumption trends.

Based on rolling four-week averages, US gasoline demand fell from 9.3 million barrels per day (b/d) during the week of March 13, 2020, (when President Trump declared a national emergency) to 5.3 million b/d on April 24, 2020. Beginning in March 2021, however, demand started growing again, and consumption rose above 9.0 million b/d during the week of May 21 for the first time since March 20, 2020. For the week ending June 18, gasoline product supplied averaged 9.1 million b/d, 94% of the 2019 level for the corresponding week.

Demand for US jet fuel has also increased from its 2020 lows as personal travel has increased, but it has not approached its 2019 levels as closely as gasoline and distillate have. International travel restrictions, concerns about rising COVID-19 case counts in other countries, and reduced business travel have probably contributed to the relatively slower return in jet fuel demand. In addition, the growth in jet fuel demand may be slower than gasoline and distillate fuel if travelers continue to avoid flying. For the week ending June 18, jet fuel product supplied averaged 1.3 million b/d, 74% of 2019 levels for the corresponding week.

COVID-19 did not affect distillate consumption as much as gasoline or jet fuel consumption. Distillate consumption in the United States is driven by economic activity and is more directly affected by changes in freight transport than by reduced travel or work-from-home trends. Demand for distribution of necessities, such as food and medical supplies, and increased home deliveries for goods likely contributed to relatively stable demand for distillate fuel during 2020. For the week ending June 18, distillate product supplied averaged 3.9 million b/d, 98% of 2019 levels for the corresponding week.

As MRC informed previously, Asia's cash differentials for jet fuel flipped into premiums for the first time this year in early May, partly supported by firmer deals in the physical market, while prompt-month spread for the aviation fuel stood at its narrowest contango in more than two months.

We remind that slumping fuel consumption during the pandemic is accelerating the long-term shift of refining capacity from North America and Europe to Asia, and from older, smaller refineries to modern, higher-capacity mega-refineries. The result is a wave of closures, often centering on refineries that only narrowly survived the previous closure wave in the years after the recession in 2008/09.

We also remind that PetroChina has nearly doubled the amount of Russian crude being processed at its refinery in Dalian, the company's biggest, since January 2018, as a new supply agreement had come into effect. The Dalian Petrochemical Corp, located in the northeast port city of Dalian, was expected to process 13 million tonnes, or 260,000 bpd of Russian pipeline crude in 2018, up by about 85 to 90 percent from the previous year's level. Dalian has the capacity to process about 410,000 bpd of crude. The increase follows an agreement worked out between the Russian and Chinese governments under which Russia's top oil producer Rosneft was to supply 30 million tonnes of ESPO Blend crude to PetroChina in 2018, or about 600,000 bpd. That would have represented an increase of 50 percent over 2017 volumes.

Ethylene and propylene are the main feedstocks for the production of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), respectively.

According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's estimated PE consumption totalled 744,130 tonnes in the first four month of 2021, up by 4% year on year. Shipments of all PE grades increased. At the same time, PP deliveries to the Russian market were 523,900 tonnes in January-April 2021, up by 55% year on year. Supply of homopolymer PP and PP block copolymers increased, whereas shipments of PP random copolymers decreased.
MRC